******Official 2017 Free Dining Plan Watch, Wait, and Dream

[ThistleMae]

It's all so crazy making, I have to wonder why I put myself through the torture...oh...wait....because I love Disney and want to get the best deal? Yes....indeed...free dining changes everything for us...including being able to go! Does anyone else think the "half-dining" plan will be offered again this summer? This would also help tremendously, especially since our dates may be excluded from free dining (August - Summer).

 

[sharonabe]

It's all so crazy making, I have to wonder why I put myself through the torture...oh...wait....because I love Disney and want to get the best deal? Yes....indeed...free dining changes everything for us...including being able to go! Does anyone else think the "half-dining" plan will be offered again this summer? This would also help tremendously, especially since our dates may be excluded from free dining (August - Summer).

The half dining plan was offered for the summer, but the booking time has passed. The dates for that went through Aug 24.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Well Crap, my group of three just might be a group of four soon and now my bounce back is still good, but we may need to add another room. So looks like this year I'll be hoping for Free dining and joining the morning call if it comes.

 

[Marianm]

Is anyone suspecting the dates this year are going to be very limited? Do to the later end of the value resort dining plan, and the early start of food and wine? Just my thoughts...

 

[sharonabe]

Is anyone suspecting the dates this year are going to be very limited? Do to the later end of the value resort dining plan, and the early start of food and wine? Just my thoughts...

I think there are factors to make a case either way.

Fewer dates: Disney really would like to phase out this promotion, and has been cutting back a little bit every year. Couple that with the possibility of higher occupancy in other resorts due to renovations at two of the moderates, and we may see very limited dates and rooms available within those dates.

More dates: Quarterly reports (and anecdotal reports here on the DIS) seem to say guest attendance is down. If it looks like that trend will continue through the fall based on current bookings, then we may see a more liberal availability.

Either way: The opening of Pandora. If this drives up attendance, free dining will be limited. If it tanks and/or if it looks like people are putting vacations on hold for Star Wars/Toy Story land opening, free dining will be broader.

Just my opinion.

 

[dedesmith32]

Okay so I am planning our first Disney World Vacation. We will probably be going from December 2-16th. So help me out. How do I get free dining when it comes out. Do I wait to buy a package then or do I do the package now and then change it?

 

[X96msm]

Which can stretch late into the night!

Can it ever!! It's all worth it!

 

[sjs314]

My concern is I can't cancel our current reservation and make a new one without losing out big time on money. We've currently got a room at Saratoga Springs at about a $2,800 discount. So I seriously hope I won't have problems just modifying my current reservation!

You must pay rack rate to get FD so your room discount you now have may be your better option

 

[sharonabe]

Okay so I am planning our first Disney World Vacation. We will probably be going from December 2-16th. So help me out. How do I get free dining when it comes out. Do I wait to buy a package then or do I do the package now and then change it?

Those dates were not a part of free dining in 2016. That doesn't mean they won't be this year, but chances are slim, especially since Pop Warner is usually there around that time.

If you're going no matter what, I'd go ahead and book exactly what you WANT now, so you know you have that. IF free dining comes available for your dates, you'll have to change your reservation which may include changing resorts and/or room preference.

 

[JRRine]

I know this is probably a repeat, but is there a watch for any Disney Visa Discounts this Summer?

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!

 

[mmouse1239]

I managed to take advantage of FD last year by staying in a cabin at FW. It was really nice for my DD, DSIL, grandsons, and myself. This year, I will be traveling with my SIL the week following Thanksgiving. I had read, earlier in this thread, that people were expecting FD to be at CBR if offered in this time frame, but that people had difficulty obtaining reservations during this time. Just to let everyone know, I was able to obtain a 4 night reservation, preferred room, from Monday-Friday for the week after Thanksgiving. It said on the reservation that there would be a $75 per night visa card given due to renovations. Since we are two adults traveling, and we don't really care about pool, etc., it seemed like a good deal to grab in case FD isn't offered, or we aren't able to grab it. There were also standard rooms available for the same dates.

 

[dazedx3]

I am confused, in order to take advantage of free dining do we have to add a dining plan at the time of booking the room. Can we later add free dining as it comes available? hope that made sense

 

[pigletto]

I am confused, in order to take advantage of free dining do we have to add a dining plan at the time of booking the room. Can we later add free dining as it comes available? hope that made sense

No, you don't have to book dining in your initial reservation. You would be modifying a package reservation for free dining anyway (online or by calling in) or cancelling and rebooking if you had a room only reservation.

 

[LisaPisa]

Just read every post in this thread. Y'all are so informative! Has anyone ever heard of FD good for Feb? (Planning 2/4-2/10/18) MouseSavers shows FD only for fall dates and thats in line with what I've read here, but I saw a blog on Your Orlando Visit that had FD (or a free breakfast only discount) for visits Jan-Mar 2016. Haven't heard that mentioned anywhere on these boards though so wondering if that's a reliable website.

 

[Mbuksa]

Just read every post in this thread. Y'all are so informative! Has anyone ever heard of FD good for Feb? (Planning 2/4-2/10/18) MouseSavers shows FD only for fall dates and thats in line with what I've read here, but I saw a blog on Your Orlando Visit that had FD (or a free breakfast only discount) for visits Jan-Mar 2016. Haven't heard that mentioned anywhere on these boards though so wondering if that's a reliable website.

It is definitely possible. But generally, it's the Stay, Play, and Dine deal that is active in Feb. I have used that in the past and it's a pretty good deal.

 

[memma05]

Just read every post in this thread. Y'all are so informative! Has anyone ever heard of FD good for Feb? (Planning 2/4-2/10/18) MouseSavers shows FD only for fall dates and thats in line with what I've read here, but I saw a blog on Your Orlando Visit that had FD (or a free breakfast only discount) for visits Jan-Mar 2016. Haven't heard that mentioned anywhere on these boards though so wondering if that's a reliable website.

MouseSavers has a great "Historical Disney World Resort Discounts" article that tells you each discount offered from 2013-present, when it was released and what dates it included. I find that really helpful when looking at certain dates for our trips. Of course the dates change year to year and its never a guarantee but you can see a trend

 

[amytaylor2]

You must pay rack rate to get FD so your room discount you now have may be your better option

I was paying rack rate for our reservation at CBR but due to construction they moved us resorts for what we were already paying. Since the POR resorts are usually exempt from free dining they combined our 2 rooms and put us at SS. So from what I've been told it's not technically counting as a discount on the room.

 

[jknc]

My wife's cousin is so insane about 'free dining', she has 4 room reservations under her name, husband, her mom and dad. When dining gets announced they all call and whoever confirms booking first tells the others to cancel. I cant even.

 

[jlundeen]

My wife's cousin is so insane about 'free dining', she has 4 room reservations under her name, husband, her mom and dad. When dining gets announced they all call and whoever confirms booking first tells the others to cancel. I cant even.

hmmm...I guess if a lot of others do this, it would explain why so many rooms open up a bit after the FD rush...

 

[mlm87]

Wow that multiple booking strategy would have me so stressed. Imagine if she booked on a blackout date for all four